Criminology
Subject Leader: Mr C Saker
Subject Leader Email Address: chris.saker@swale.at
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
MARTIN LUTHER KING
Subject overview
Criminology (from Latin crīmen, "accusation"; and Greek -λογία, -logia) is the scientific study of criminal behaviour, on individual, social and natural levels, and how it can be managed, controlled and prevented.
This course will enable students to use theories of criminality to analyse criminal situations and make recommendations for policy. Students also develop the knowledge and skills to research policy in practice, assess campaigns for changes in awareness and examine information to review verdicts in criminal cases.
Sixth Form Year 12
By the end of key stage 5 students should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of criminological theories, concepts, evidence and methods
- Apply knowledge and understanding of the British criminal justice system
- Analyse and evaluate the use of different personnel in all levels of the criminal justice system
Why study this course?
An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social and probation work, and sociology and psychology. WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology is a qualification with elements of psychology, law and sociology that complements studies in humanities. This is an Applied General qualification. This means it is designed primarily to support learners progressing to university. It has been designed to offer exciting and interesting experiences that focus learning for 16-19 year-old learners and adult learners through applied learning, i.e. through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system.
What does this course lead on to?
The qualification would support learners’ progression from any study at Level 2, particularly GCSEs in sociology, ethics, psychology, religious studies, history and humanities.
Term 1:
Students will analyse different types of crime, and explain why certain crimes go unreported and the consequences of this. Students will compare criminal behaviour to deviance and gain the skills to explain why crime is socially constructed.
Enquiry Questions:
What can affect the public perception of crime?
Is crime a social construct?
What makes a person commit crime?
Term 2:
Students will gain the skills to describe media representations of crime and deepen their knowledge to explain the impact of these representations on the public perception of crime. Students will be able to explore the biological theories behind criminality and evaluate their credibility. Students will assess policies that have been formed with these biological theories throughout history.
Enquiry Questions:
What can affect the public perception of crime?
How do campaigns elicit social change?
What makes a person commit crime?
Why does crime exist?
Do policies reduce crime?
Term 3:
Students will start to examine campaigns used to reduce crime and reflect on their success. Afterwards, students will consider creating their own campaigns for reducing crime and explore different materials that can be used for success. With this, students will move onto describing individualistic theories of criminality, and critique policies created by the government.
Enquiry Questions:
How do campaigns elicit social change?
How can I make a campaign to reduce crime?
What makes a person commit crime?
Why does crime exist?
Do policies reduce crime?
Term 4:
Students will consider justifying their campaigns and gather evidence to support their reasons. Students will describe sociological theories of criminality and consider crime prevention policies influenced by these. Finally, social changes influencing these policies will be discussed.
Enquiry Questions:
How can I make a campaign to reduce crime?
What makes a person commit crime?
Why does crime exist?
Do policies reduce crime?
Term 5:
Students at this point will have completed their controlled assessment and will be revising for their end of year examinations.
Term 6:
Students will be researching content accessed in Year 13, and learning case studies to support their studies.
Sixth Form Year 13
Term 1:
Students will describe the process for law making in the United Kingdom as well as exploring the organisation of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. Students will also evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal investigations as well as assess the usefulness of investigative techniques in criminal investigations.
Enquiry Questions:
What happens at a crime scene?
How does the CJS work?
Term 2:
Students will be able to explain different forms of social control. They will also discuss the aims of punishment and how forms of punishment meet these aims. Students will also explain the requirements of the Crown Prosecution Service for prosecuting suspects, and examine court proceedings such as trial processes and the use of evidence.
Enquiry Questions:
How do criminal trials progress?
Is punishment effective?
Term 3:
Students will explain the role of agencies in social control and the contribution of agencies to achieving social control previously explored. Students will also be able to examine information for validity such as media representations and miscarriages of justice.
Enquiry Questions:
Are criminal convictions always just?
What makes social control successful?
Term 4:
Students will be examining the limitations of agencies in achieving social control and evaluating the effectiveness of agencies in achieving social control.
Enquiry Questions:
Are criminal convictions always just?
What makes social control successful?
Term 5:
Students will conclude by examining the limitations of agencies in achieving social control and evaluating the effectiveness of agencies in achieving social control.
Enquiry Questions:
How does the CJS work?
Is punishment effective?
What makes social control successful?